CREEKING NOISE CONTD

Hi Adeline,The lower ball joint is an integral part of the lower control arm. If the ball joint is defective, the entire lower control arm must be replaced.So here's a link showing you how to replace. http://www.autozone.com/repairinfo/repairguide/repairGuideContent.jsp?pageId=0996b43f821a44bb Here's another link to a new part. Control Arm Lower at AutoZone com Best Control Arm Lower Parts for Cars...

It sounds as though you have a c/v joint going out on your Neon. If you intend to repair it yourself, the replacement part is around $40-$50.

the ball joint is replaced as a lower control arm. You will need to remove the tire, remove the nut that attaches the ball joint to the knuckle, seperate the ball joint from the knuckel, remove the radius arm nut, remove the bolt that secures the lower control arm from the subframe, and then remove the control arm.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

To perform the following procedure, the lower control arm must be removed from the vehicle. Refer to Removal And Installation for that procedure.

1. Using a screw driver or other suitable tool, pry the seal boot off of the ball joint assembly
2. Position receiving cup, Special Tool 6758 to support lower control arm when removing ball joint assembly. Install Remover, Special Tool 6919 on the top of the ball joint assembly.
3. Using the arbor press, press the ball joint assembly completely out of the lower control arm.

NOTE: When installing ball joint in lower control arm, position the ball joint in control arm so notch in ball joint stud is in the direction shown. This will ease assembly of the ball joint to the steering when installing pinch bolt.

1. By hand, position ball joint into ball joint bore of lower control arm. Be sure ball joint is not cocked in the bore of the control arm, this will cause the ball joint to bind when being pressed into control arm.

 

1. Position control arm with installed ball joint, in an arbor press with Receiving Cup, Special Tool 6758 supporting the lower control arm. Then center Installer, Special Tool 6908-4 on the bottom of the ball joint
2. Carefully align all pieces. Then press the ball joint into the lower control arm until it is completely seated against surface of lower control arm. The ball joint is correctly installed when there is no gap between the ball joint and the lower control arm. Do not apply excessive force against the ball joint or the lower control arm.
3. Install a NEW seal boot by hand as far as possible on the ball joint. Installation of the seal boot is to be with the shield positioned as shown.

CAUTION: Do not use an arbor press to install the sealing boot on the ball joint. Damage to the sealing boot will occur if excessive pressure is applied to the sealing boot when it is being installed.

1. Place Installer, Special Tool 6758 over seal boot and squarely align it with bottom edge of seal boot. Apply hand pressure to Special Tool 6758 until seal boot is pressed squarely against top surface of lower control arm.

CAUTION: A replacement ball joint is not pre-lubricated. Properly lubricate the replacement ball joint using Mopar Multi-Mile grease or an equivalent. Lubricate ball joint after seal boot is installed but prior to top of seal boot being pushed down below notch in ball joint stud. Air must vent out of the seal boot at notch when grease is pumped into ball joint, failure to do so will balloon and damage seal boot. Do not over grease the ball joint, this will prevent the seal boot from pushing down on the stud of the ball joint.

CAUTION: After the ball joint is properly greased, clip the end of the grease fleeing off below the hex. The ball joint seal boot is non-purgeable and further greasing is not required and can result in damage to the seal boot.

1. Reinstall lower control arm on vehicle.

jack up the the side with the broken ball joint under the control arm.
Remove the axle nut (4x4)
remove the caliper and the rotor.
remove the outer tie rod from the knuckle.
Remove the upper and lower control arm nuts and remove knuckle from vehicle.

Using a ball joint press remove and install the ball joint.

tighten axle nut (4x4 only) to 133 lb-ft after everything is assembled.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

To replace the lower control are you need to unbolt it from the subframe, airmatic strut, sway bar link and from the lower ball joint. The lower ball joint is separate from the lower control arm. The ball joint actually gets pressed into the steering knuckle. Then the lower control arm sits on top of the ball joint and gets bolted down. The lower control arms list price are about $330 each and the ball joints are around $78 each for oem mercedes parts. The total labor for both to be replaced is somewhere between 6-8 flag hours. The thrust arms are also part of the front suspension and those arms are one piece that have a ball joint as part of the arm. The lower control arm usually doesn't need to be replaced unless its damaged since the control arm bushings are available separately and are around $73 each side for the kit.

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Upper ball joints are not replaceable. The upper ball joint is part of the upper control arm bushing joint and is not serviced separately. If the upper ball joints are found to be defective, the entire upper control arm bushing joint assembly must be replaced. Lower Ball Joint INSPECTION

1. Support the vehicle in normal driving position with ball joints loaded.
2. Wipe the grease fitting and checking surface, so they are free of dirt and grease. The checking surface is the round boss into which the grease fitting is threaded.
3. The checking surface should project outside the cover. If the checking surface is inside the cover, replace the lower arm assembly.

it must be pressed out with a ball joint press then new one pressed back in. this job is for a machanic

There's a chance that the ball joints need grease. This should help, however once they have started to make noise like that due to lack of grease, they usually have gone bad. Replacement may be the only remedy. Hope this helps.

Hi,
Remove the castle nut on top of the ball joint that secures the ball joint to the spindle. separate ball joint/lower control arm from spindle.Remove lower control arm bolt attatching control arm to subframe/engine cradle. Remove control arm. Replacement is recersal of the removal. Nissan/Infinity ball joints can not be pressed out or in. They are replaced with the whole new lower control arm as one (On most Nissan/ Infinity vehicles, although some exeptions apply. Hope this helps.
Daniel G.